1985 Map of Golden Ranch

About this map

Salt Lake dominates this high plains landscape within the Portales Valley, a region defined by its expansive topography and the significant presence of the Grulla National Wildlife Refuge. This conservation area spans across the state line, where the boundary between New Mexico and Texas meets the local division of Roosevelt and Bailey counties. The map provides a detailed view of the pastoral and industrial character of the mid-1980s, marked by the isolated Golden Ranch and a dense network of water extraction points labeled simply as wells. These features illustrate the vital relationship between the saline basin and the agricultural infrastructure required to sustain life and ranching in this arid borderland environment.